7/30/14 - A public information meeting tomorrow night will focus on the stateâs future reclamation of the Spring Mill Mine portion of a local recreation area. The Spring Mill Mine encompasses approximately 550 acres of a former sand and gravel mine in the southwest area of the Island Lake Recreation Area, just north of McCabe Road in Green Oak Township. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Parks and Recreation Division is seeking a non-metallic mineral lease to reclaim the area. The state says the purpose is to re-contour and improve the area to enhance public recreation opportunities, establish grassland habitat for wildlife and address potential safety concerns. Prior to becoming a part of the recreation area, sand and gravel had been mined from the site by a number of different companies since the 1930âs. The former aggregate mine area is part of the park however; the DNR says it was never properly reclaimed or contoured. As a consequence, the DNR says the area has non-compatible spoil piles, steep slopes that are un-stable, random excavations and mining artifacts such as building foundations, roadbeds, fences and pipes. The reclamation will remove all of the artifacts from former mining while the lease will allow approximately 4.9 million tons of aggregate to leave the site as new topography is shaped. State officials estimate the project will take 5-10 years to complete and say proposals will be sought from qualified companies to reshape the land and provide the best value plan for the park. Thursdayâs informational meeting on the reclamation will be held from 7 to 8:30pm at the Green Oak Township Hall on Silver Lake Road. (JM)
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